At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations at Grafham Water Park, ensuring outstanding visitor experiences and driving commercial growth.
- Company: Join Anglian Water, a leader in outdoor leisure and recreation.
- Benefits: Enjoy private health care, generous pension contributions, and 25 days annual leave.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent career development opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a premier outdoor destination and inspire a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Experience in leisure, hospitality, or tourism management with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 45091 - 45091 £ per year.
Salary: Circa £45,000, depending on skills and experience. Full-time, with flexibility for part-time. 37 hours per week/permanent.
Location: Grafham Water, near Huntingdon.
Private health care, double-matched pension, life assurance at 8 times salary.
Grafham Water is one of the UK's largest reservoirs and one of East Anglia's most popular outdoor recreation destinations. Welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, the park offers an exciting mix of cycling, walking, fishing, water sports, mini golf, soft play, nature conservation, events, catering outlets and visitor experiences.
We're seeking an exceptional Park Manager to lead the operational, commercial and people performance of Grafham Water Park. This is a high-profile leadership role with responsibility for delivering outstanding visitor experiences, driving commercial growth, maintaining exceptional safety standards and inspiring a multidisciplinary team to achieve success.
As Park Manager, you will take ownership of all day-to-day operations across Grafham Water Park, ensuring every visitor enjoys a safe, memorable and engaging experience. Reporting to the General Manager, you'll provide visible leadership across the site, working closely with operational managers, support functions and key stakeholders to deliver commercial growth, operational excellence and continuous improvement. You'll be responsible for balancing the needs of a busy visitor destination while protecting the special environmental and community value of Grafham Water.
What You'll Be Doing
- Driving Commercial Performance: You'll be responsible for driving commercial performance across the park, managing budgets, financial controls and cash handling processes, while identifying opportunities to grow visitor numbers, participation and income.
- Creating Outstanding Visitor Experiences: You'll bring teams together to deliver excellent customer service, maintaining high standards across facilities and public spaces, using feedback and insight to drive improvement, championing relevant quality accreditations and promoting Grafham Water as a leading leisure destination.
- Leading High-Performing Teams: Recruit, coach and develop permanent and seasonal colleagues, building an accountable, engaged team with effective workforce planning, clear objectives and regular feedback to deliver consistently high standards.
- Delivering Operational Excellence: Own operational performance across all park activities and services, using reporting, meetings and continuous improvement to strengthen systems, processes and procedures while supporting teams through peak periods and operational challenges.
- Championing Safety: Lead a strong "Safer Every Day" culture, ensuring health, safety and environmental compliance through effective audits, inspections, risk assessments, incident investigations and close collaboration with safety advisors and operational teams.
What We're Looking For
- Qualified to diploma level or equivalent professional experience in leisure, recreation, hospitality or a related discipline.
- Proven experience in outdoor leisure, visitor attraction, tourism or hospitality operations, working over a 7 day week operation.
- Demonstrable success managing commercially focused operations.
- Experience managing budgets and financial performance.
- Experience in facilities management and health & safety compliance.
- Strong customer service focus and attention to detail.
- Full UK Driving Licence.
Why Join AVH Parks?
This is a unique opportunity to lead one of Anglian Water's flagship visitor destinations. You'll have the autonomy to shape the future of Grafham Water, influence business performance, develop talented teams and make a real difference to the experiences of thousands of visitors every year.
As a valued employee, you'll be entitled to personal private health care, life assurance (up to 8 x salary), personal accident cover (up to 5 x salary), double-matched pension (maximum 7% employee / 14% employer contribution), 25 days annual leave - rising with length of service and the ability to buy more, excellent family friendly policies, such as 26 weeks full pay for maternity / adoption leave, as well as 4 weeks paid paternity / partner leave, opportunity for shared parental pay, bonus scheme, and flexible benefits to support your wellbeing and lifestyle.
If you're ready to combine commercial leadership, operational excellence and a passion for the great outdoors, we'd love to hear from you.
Closing date: Wednesday 12th August.
Parks Manager - Grafham Water in Huntingdon employer: Anglian Water
ANGLIAN WATER is an exceptional employer located in Bedford, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and development. With flexible working hours and a comprehensive benefits package including a competitive pension scheme and private healthcare, employees are encouraged to grow their skills while contributing to meaningful environmental initiatives. Join us to be part of a team that values innovation and sustainability in water recycling processes.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Parks Manager - Grafham Water in Huntingdon
✨Get a Taste of the Scene
Try visiting local eateries and asking if they have any full-time positions available. Many hospitality jobs aren’t advertised online, so popping in for a chat can give you an edge and show your enthusiasm!
✨Network at Food Festivals
Food festivals and culinary events are buzzing with industry connections. Attend these to meet restaurateurs and other food service pros; you never know who might be looking for their next star employee!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a short video showcasing your cooking or customer service flair. Post it on social media or even send it directly to places you want to work at, like Anglian Water. It’s a fun way to stand out and demonstrate what you bring to the table!
✨Reach Out Directly to Anglian Water
Don't be shy about reaching out to Anglian Water directly through their website. Express your interest in available roles and attach your CV, showing your genuine eagerness to be part of their team. Personal touches can go a long way!
We think you need these skills to ace Parks Manager - Grafham Water in Huntingdon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Service Experience:In the hospitality-food-service world, your experience is key! Make sure to highlight any previous roles you've had in restaurants, cafes, or catering. We want to see your customer service skills shine, so include specific examples where you went above and beyond for clients.
Certificates Matter:If you’ve got any relevant certifications, like food safety or bartender training, flaunt them! They can really set you apart from the crowd and show us your dedication to the industry. Just make sure to mention them clearly in your CV or cover letter!
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Take the time to write a personal cover letter that reflects your passion for hospitality. Share why you’re excited about Anglian Water and how your skills can contribute to our team's success. We're after that genuine connection!
Highlight Your Team Spirit:In full-time roles, teamwork is everything! Emphasise your ability to work collaboratively in busy environments. Mention any experiences where you’ve effectively collaborated with colleagues or managed conflicts — it's just as important as your technical skills!
How to prepare for a job interview at Anglian Water
✨Show Your People Skills
In hospitality, customer service is everything! Be ready to showcase examples of how you've engaged with customers positively. Maybe you turned a tough situation around or went that extra mile for a guest—let’s hear those stories!
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
Expect some technical questions about food and drink, especially if you're applying for a kitchen or service role. Brush up on the menu items, including ingredients and any potential allergens. If you’ve got any favourite dishes or cocktails, have a little something prepared to discuss, too!
✨Demonstrate Your Team Spirit
Hospitality thrives on teamwork, so think of examples where you've worked well with others in a fast-paced environment. Be prepared to discuss what makes a great team member and how you contribute to a positive working vibe. They’re looking for that 'good fit!'
✨Get Ready for a Practical Test
In full-time food service roles, don’t be surprised if they want to see your skills in action. Whether it's serving a table or prepping a dish, be mentally prepared for a practical test during the interview. Practice makes perfect—a little dry run with friends could give you the edge!
